West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-11-04
West Virginia Democrat.
Tbomas II. Mason, Business Manager.

III Is mucn 10 Oe ItStSteOV On"'
certain Democrats in some of the
Western counties boisterously as
sert that,-"No man shall go on the
State ticket who sympathized with
the "Kickers". Let US reason tOgeth-
err. If any considerable number in
the party adopt this policy, West
Virginia goes Republican. She can
not be spared in 'SS.
We come to discuss this subject
with little to retract and with no
favors to ask; but, in view of the
result, with many misgivings wheth-
err the course pursued by us was the
wisest one that could have been fol-
lowed. We acted according to the
lights then before us and we expect
ed very different result. We have
not the slightest doubt that if what
was attempted had been accomplish
ed it would have been best for the
State; but our efforts miscarried,
and it is freely admitted that had
we known then what we know now
our conduct would have been very
different. We then cherished the
delusion that it was possible, for q
paper such as this, to so arouse
thoughtful men that they would take
sufficient interest in the public veal
TO bring about the election of some
man who measured up to our stand
ard of what a Senator should be.
We miscalculated the age in which
we live. Did Calhoun, Webster and
Clay reside in West Va. to-day, it is
doubtful whether a majority could
be united to secure their services in
Congress. We did not believe this
two years ago; we do believe it now.
Our fight was not against an in
dIvidual; it was against the idea
that nominations and elections
should be surrendered to men who
are active in politics only because
they are pensioners upon the bounty
of millionaire or because they ex
pect, or actually have, a salary from
the Government. We thought our
exertions would bring about con-
dition in which a candidate for the
Senate would be advocated only on
the ground that he was prominently
qualified and peculiarly fitted for
the place. 1t is safer to have the
laws framed by persons whose train
ing in life has brought them close
to the common wants Of the masses;
but we were then, and are now,
keenly alive to the fact that the
most dangerous men in Congress are
those who, being unable to afford
expenses INDUCED in by their asso-
ciates, sell themselves to the very
influences we try to guard against.
The most useful politicians to the
railroad managers are the men who,
while loud in their professions to the
people, are at the same time Deepen
dent on the railroad support for a
re election. The politicians least
useful to the people are the men who
feel themselves too poor to be indie
pendent and too friendless to incur
the hostilities of the rich and pow
erful. A millionaire in the Senate
is more apt to act right than pen
siOner upon railroad influence.
Those with greatest experience
in public affairs best know how
very few men can stand the test of
temptation. The desire for person
al advancement or the pressure of
pecuniary distress, outweighs with
many their loyalty to the cause in
which they have enlisted; but there
are some men who cheerfully sacrifice
themselves to accomplish a work in
which they have embarked their
friends. The greatest need Of this
age is men in the public service
who, when occasion requires, will
sacrifice themselves to their sense Of
duty. A sincere man, although
mistaken on one subject, but right
on others, is far more useful in the
world than a much more learned
and ADLER man who lacks courage to
act as his own judgment dictates.
There were among the "Kickers'
those governed by stern sense of
duty,-as they understood their du-
ty. To 90 into caucus was to break
the pledge upon which they had
been elected; to refuse to 90 into 1
caucus was to violate a party usage